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| Wednesday, August 30, 2023 science.gmu.edu
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Adjust our sails
by Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm
Last week in his Opening Session, Provost Ginsberg asked the audience a few questions that I'd like to ask each of us. As you reflect on your work and achievements during Academic Year 2022-2023, in one word, what are you most proud of?
When you think of it, write this word down and savor the accomplishment.
As his audience reflected and contributed to the word cloud, popular sentiments emerged: growth, team, progress, students, collaboration, and flexibility showed up a lot. But then another word started to dominate the cloud. SURVIVING. There was a chuckle in the audience at first. But then the group realized, that really is what many of us have been doing.
As a college, we have had conversations about the survival mode we all adopted while in the Covid-19 pandemic. After the pivot, adjusting class and work to fit a hybrid or virtual environment, establishing vaccines, developing a new normal and going forward within it took much fortitude, creativity and energy. We also learned that to sustain it at times took everything we had. So surviving was an honest answer that reflected many of our minds. We had made it through a difficult year.
Our college collectively survived, and then some.
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Join us for ScienceConnect this September and get to know the Mason Science community
Start off the semester by meeting College of Science faculty, staff, and students while exploring college programs, research, and professional opportunities. Be sure to grab some food and win college SWAG. ScienceConnect will be held on both the Mason Fairfax and SciTech campuses. Register to attend and share the event with your students by downloading this PPT graphic.
Fairfax Campus
Tuesday, September 12 | 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Exploratory Hall AtriaScience and Technology Campus
Thursday, September 14 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Katherine G. Johnson Hall
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Exploring Mason's contribution to water conservation
by Shayla Brown
During a talk at the recent Head Above the Water event in Washington, D.C., Jennifer Sklarew, Assistant Professor, ESP, discussed how many people at George Mason University do not realize that Mason Pond is actually there for stormwater management. Mason is deeply committed to pioneering processes that can answer the grand challenges of water, its responsible management, and sustainability. In fact, the university’s interdisciplinary approach and cutting-edge research as part of its strategic direction, has turned Mason’s campuses into a Living Lab. Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding.
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Using weather model and geologic data to test tectonic mechanisms in intercontinental setting
by Elizabeth Grisham
Paul Acosta, Postdoctoral Scholar, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences (AOES), and Natalie Burls, Associate Professor, AOES; Graduate Program Director, Climate Dynamics, received funding from the National Science Foundation for a project that seeks to apply new advances in atmospheric and geosciences to a natural experiment in central Asia. The height and shape of the Altai Mountains over the past 50 million years are thought to have precipitated a major change in atmospheric circulation and in climate. Photo by Evgenia on Unsplash.
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CDS researchers conclude that Mars colony could survive with fewer than two dozen people
Mason researchers from the Department of Computational and Data Sciences calculate minimum number of astronauts needed to build and maintain Mars colony. The data scientists – Edgar Arguello, Sam Carter, Cristina Grieg, Michael Hammer, Chris Prather, Clark Petri, and Anamaria Berea – describe their findings in a preprint paper titled "An Exploration of Mars Colonization with Agent-Based Modeling."
The Register and Independent UK covered their findings.
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Answering questions about Virginia’s newest body farm
Mason's Forensic Science experts answered questions about what happens at the body farm and what it means for the future of solving crimes with WSLS 10 News, the NBC affiliate in Roanoke, VA.
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Don't forget to complete the Mandatory 2023 IT Security Awareness Training(s)
Information Technology Services (ITS) has assigned the Mandatory 2023 IT Security Awareness Training(s) to your Mason Learning, Evaluation, and Performance System (MasonLEAPS) account.
Similar to last year and to fulfill the annual compliance requirement, the training(s) have been assigned to all Mason employees, including contractors, affiliates and student wage workers. It is designed to equip you with knowledge about how to recognize phishing emails, other cybersecurity risks and provide you with information about online safety and security. The training, an industry standard, is required by George Mason and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Assigned training(s) must be completed by Tuesday, October 31 to avoid having your NetID disabled, which interrupts your access to Mason’s IT services including Patriot Web, Office 365, and Wi-Fi networks.
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Attend Mason Libraries AI Fall Salon Series 2023
Join Mason Libraries for a series of scholarly discussions regarding artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as ChatGPT and their effects on higher education and society. Mason librarians will facilitate open dialog for learning more about this rapidly expanding topic and what it means for Mason and the global community. All salons will take place in the Fenwick Library Main Reading Room (Level 2).
AI in Business and Government
September 21 | 4 to 5 p.m.
Moderators: Kayla Gourlay (Business and Economics Librarian) and Lorena Jordan (Policy and Government Librarian)
AI, Ethics, and Academic Integrity
October 9 | 4 to 5 p.m.
Moderator: Trevor Watkins (Teaching and Outreach Librarian)
AI in the Arts and Humanities
November 15 | 4 to 5 p.m.
Moderators: Stephanie Grimm (Art and Art History Librarian) and Megan Reichelt (Theater, Dance, and Women & Gender Studies Librarian)
AI in the Social Sciences and STEM
December 6 | 4 to 5 p.m.
Moderators: Chris Magee (Social Sciences Librarian) and Dr. Heidi Blackburn (Computing Librarian)
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College Colors Day
September 1, 2023
Wherever you are, show your Patriot pride by wearing your green and gold. You can receive a free Mason rally towel with your branded merchandise purchase at the bookstore, while supplies last.
Evening Under the Stars
September 5, 2023 | 8 to 10 p.m.
Join the Department of Physics and Astronomy for an out of this world evening in the Research Hall Interstellar Dreams Space Center.
ScienceConnect 2023
September 12, 2023 | 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Fairfax Campus
September 14, 2023 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | SciTech Campus
Encourage your students to attend. Meet Mason Science students while discussing your programs and sharing research and professional opportunities with free food and chances to win Mason Science SWAG. Register to attend.
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